More Stations Ask to Shut Off Analog Signal

Last week the FCC allowed two stations to shut down their 700 MHz band analog channels and released a Public Notice announcing a request by a third station to cease analog operation on channel 55. All three stations received support from Qualcomm in its filings. The WLNY Request for Authority to Cease Analog Operati

Last week the FCC allowed two stations to shut down their 700 MHz band analog channels and released a Public Notice announcing a request by a third station to cease analog operation on channel 55. All three stations received support from Qualcomm in its filings.

In granting the WACX-TV and KWDK requests, the FCC required each station "to supply all cable systems carrying its digital signal" with the conversion equipment necessary to translate the station's digital signal to an analog signal. In its request, WLNY-TV said it would, at its own expense, "provide cable operators with a signal capable of retransmission to subscribers in analog form." WLNY-TV said it already uses fiber optic links to deliver its signal to all cable systems carrying the station, so there would be no disruption to WLNY viewers using cable and other MVPDs.

The FCC database dated July 17, 2005 (see last week's RF Report) showed 62 full power analog licenses and 83 construction permits and construction permit modifications on channels 52-59, although not all of them will meet the FCC's requirements for earlier shutdown of their analog channel.

KJLA in Ventura, Calif., has asked the FCC for permission to cease analog broadcasting on Channel 57, surrender its license for the channel, and operate as a digital-only television station on Channel 49. The FCC stated it would consider requests from stations to vacate their analog channels in spectrum above Channel 5

The FCC Media Bureau reported that the licensee of WRNN-TV and WRNN-DT in Kingston, NY has requested authority to cease operation on NTSC channel 62 and surrender its license for channel 62 prior to the end of the DTV transition and operate using WRNN-DT as a single channel, digital-only TV station on DTV channel 48. W

The FCC granted WLNY-TV authority to shut cease analog broadcasting on channel 55, surrender its license for the channel prior to the end of the DTV transition period and operate WLNY-DT as a single channel, digital-only TV station on channel 57. In a letter authorizing DTV-only operation at WLNY-TV , the FCC said,

Johnson Broadcasting of Dallas has requested FCC authorization to cease broadcasting on analog Channel 55, surrender the Channel 55 license prior to the end of the DTV transition and operate KLDT-DT as a single channel, digital-only station on Channel 54. Qualcomm, which holds licenses for Channel 55 supported the requ

The FCC granted a request from Johnson Broadcasting of Dallas, licensee of KLDT in Lake Dallas, Texas, for authority to cease analog broadcasting on NTSC Channel 55, surrender its license for that channel prior to the end of the DTV transition and operate as a digital-only television station on Channel 54. Johnson argu

Energy bills are eating up too much money at public TV stations, so the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) announced it would look into adopting a hard date for shutting off analog signals. While the FCC's target shut-down date is Dec. 31, 2006, stations will not have to shut off analog signals until 85 p

Copps' comments were in response to a request from Energy & Commerce Committee ranking member Joe Barton (R-Texas) and Internet & Telecommunications Subcommittee ranking member Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), seeking information on how many stations are ready to shut off analog signals on Feb. 17.

Three more TV stations have sent requests to FCC asking to give up their analog channels and make the move to all-digital broadcasting. Two of the three stations, Paxson’s WYPX in Albany and WTBY in Poughkeepsie, have deals with Qualcomm to give up channel 54 or 55 in their respective markets. WYPX wants to give up